WHO
WE ARE
TEAM MEMBERS.
Deograsias E Shirima
MVRDV
Doris Grondke
Bianca Thielke
Wildlife Educator and Founder
I, Deograsias Shirima, was born in a small village of Mto wa Mbu which is the gate way to the great National parks of Tanzania and tourism activities.
Helping youth in my society was my long-time dream since ever I was young, which I put much effort to formulate the way to earn and to give back to my community to fulfill my dreams.
This marked the big reason to open my own tour operator company.
I opened The Red Gym, a sport centre in Mto wa Mbu, where everybody can join oir sportive activities.
We give the youth a chance to develop physical skills and practice diffrent kind of sports like: boxing, karate, aerobics etc.
I have more dreams.
Through our Tour operator company, we motivate our clients if they like, to awareness about our situation.
Our staff is highly motivated to move on and support the causes we have.
Coordination
Doris Grondke, Councilor for Urban Development, Building, and Environment in Kiel and an architect, has a well-established network in Germany and maintains many contacts as well as partnerships in Africa. Doris and Bianca share a love for Africa; they met by chance but quickly discovered they have much in common
Initiators and Fundraisers
Arthur Thielke
Sports Advisor/ Nutrition
I am Arthur Thielke, a 18-year-old student currently living in Cape Town. I have lived in Africa for most of my life. In my passport, it says ‘place of birth’ Nairobi, but I am German with both my parents being German. In the 17 years, I have spent on this planet, we lived in five countries including Thailand, Tanzania, Kenya, Germany, and Cape Town. All this traveling has allowed me to experience a diverse range of cultures across the globe. Wherever we moved soccer allowed me to engage with new communities and build up connections with the local children. In October 2020 my dad, Thilo Thielke passed away. He was a journalist with a passion for Africa., reporting from the African continent. His book ‘Traumfußball’ was a big part of my inspiration to set up this project with my friend Nafees.
Wherever my dad traveled, he collected photos and stories about the magic ball. My dad's goal was to prove that no matter the circumstances, soccer builds a community.
Nafees Hossain
Financial Advisor
A barren football field with little to no grass, one torn soccer ball, and numerous children with smiles on their faces. At just the age of six, I realized that football not only has the power to bring individuals together but to give them a sense of hope and opportunity. These kids who had scraps for equipment would dream of becoming the next big star on television, hoping to make their community proud. I am Nafees Hossain, a 17-year-old student currently studying in Cape Town, South Africa. In the last decade of my life, I’ve explored and witnessed the same exact situation in both the countries of Angola & South Africa itself. Football has the power to bring people from all races, nationalities, and unique characteristics together, and not only that, but gives individuals hope, and the possible opportunity to succeed.
Bianca Thielke is the mother of Arthur and Sophie and the owner of two lodges in Tanzania. She has lived in Tanzania for several years herself, is well-connected locally, and works with numerous tourism providers.
Architecture
The MVRDV architectural firm, based in the Netherlands, recognizes the great potential of the Milimanipark Project. The firm, which employs 250 architects, designers, and urban planners and operates globally, aims to collaborate with young Tanzanian architects on-site to design and implement the sports academy.
The Big 5
Sophie Thielke, Lucia Gross, Fien Jansen, Guilanio Cantaridis, and Bella Stodel—a team of dedicated volunteers committed to making a difference. Connected by a shared goal, we have taken the initiative to raise awareness and drive progress through impactful fundraising efforts, meaningful engagement with the local community, and the creation of a sustainable tourist program. Our goal is to not only support this project but to inspire others to get involved and contribute to lasting change. We strive to build a stronger, more connected community—one that values cultural exchange, sustainable development, and collective action.